The Power Of God's Whisper Podcast

There is a particular kind of strength many people learn early in life—the strength of self-reliance. It doesn’t start as pride. It starts as protection. You learn to handle things on your own because needing others once felt risky, disappointing, or unsafe. So you adapt. You become capable. Dependable. Independent.And over time, that independence quietly hardens into isolation.You may not call it loneliness. You still interact with people. You still show up. You still function. But emotionally, spiritually, you’re carrying more than you should by yourself. And the weight keeps increasing.God never designed the human heart to carry life alone.Needing people is not a flaw in your faith. It is a feature of how God created you. From the very beginning, God’s design included relationship—not just with Him, but with one another. Connection is not optional for spiritual health; it is essential.Yet many people resist it. Not because they don’t value others—but because admitting need feels vulnerable. It feels like weakness. It feels like surrendering control. And if you’ve been hurt, misunderstood, or let down before, your instinct may be to keep everything contained.I’ve been there.There were seasons when I convinced myself that carrying things alone was maturity. I didn’t want to burden anyone. I didn’t want to explain myself. I didn’t want to risk being misunderstood. But underneath that independence was something quieter and more dangerous: isolation.And isolation has a way of dulling the soul.What God showed me—and continues to show me—is that He often chooses people as His delivery system. Encouragement, wisdom, comfort, correction, and strength are frequently transmitted through human connection. When we shut people out, we don’t just avoid pain—we miss provision.God’s whisper in these moments isn’t, “Be stronger.”It’s, “You don’t have to do this alone.”That whisper challenges the lie that strength means silence. True strength knows when to open the door. True wisdom knows when to let someone else carry part of the load.Connection doesn’t mean oversharing. It doesn’t mean telling your whole story to everyone. It means allowing the right people into the right spaces. It means acknowledging that you were never meant to be your own sole source of support.When you let others in—even a little—you create space for God to move in ways He cannot when you remain closed off. Conversation brings clarity. Shared burden brings relief. Presence brings perspective.If you’ve been feeling emotionally heavy, spiritually tired, or quietly overwhelmed, consider this: maybe what you need isn’t more strength—but more support.And God is ready to guide you toward it.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (ESV) — “Two are better than one… For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.”Principle:God strengthens us through the people He places around us.Teaching Points:Isolation weakens what connection strengthens. God often speaks through shared presence and mutual support. Allowing others to help is an act of wisdom, not failure.Daily Action:Reach out to one person today with honesty and intention.Practice:Pray quietly: “God, show me who You’ve placed near me.”Challenge:Let someone help you with something you’ve been carrying alone—even in a small way.Prayer:Father, soften my heart where it has become guarded. Help me receive the people You’ve placed in my life and trust that You often speak through them. Amen.In Closing:God’s whisper is often heard through the presence of others. Don’t miss it by standing alone.Let’s get to work.It’s amazing how God turns a simple message into a movement.If this word stirred your spirit, help us keep speaking truth, forging faith, and equipping the next generation of warriors.👉 Support the mission here: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

There are seasons when nothing is obviously “wrong,” yet something feels off inside you. You’re still functioning. You’re still faithful. You’re still doing what needs to be done. But spiritually, you feel dull instead of sharp, scattered instead of centered, tired instead of alive.This is not rebellion.This is not failure.This is fatigue.Spiritual drift almost never happens in a dramatic moment. It happens quietly. Life crowds in. Responsibilities multiply. Noise increases. And without consciously choosing it, your inner life begins running on fumes. Prayer shortens. Silence feels uncomfortable. Scripture feels harder to engage. Not because you don’t love God—but because you’re exhausted.The danger here is not the drift itself. The danger is what you tell yourself about the drift.Most people interpret spiritual fatigue as spiritual weakness. They assume God is disappointed, distant, or waiting for them to “get it together.” That assumption creates pressure, and pressure never produces renewal. It produces avoidance.But God does not restore through pressure.He restores through presence.I’ve walked through seasons where my spiritual rhythm felt broken. Not because I stopped believing—but because I stopped resting. I kept pushing forward, assuming discipline meant effort alone. And in those moments, I expected God to correct me.Instead, His whisper was gentle and disarming:“Come back. I’m still here.”That whisper changed everything, because it revealed a truth many people miss: spiritual renewal doesn’t start with doing more—it starts with returning. Returning to awareness. Returning to honesty. Returning to relationship.God is far more interested in restoring your joy than measuring your consistency.A reset doesn’t mean you failed. It means something in you needs realignment. And realignment doesn’t require intensity—it requires attention. Paying attention to what your soul needs instead of ignoring it. Paying attention to the places where joy drained out instead of pushing past them.Spiritual rhythm is not about never drifting. It’s about knowing how to come home without shame.God’s whisper in these moments is not, “Catch up.”It’s not, “You should know better.”It’s not, “Try harder.”It’s simply, “Come closer.”And closeness restores what effort never can.When you stop striving and start listening again, something subtle but powerful happens. Peace returns before productivity does. Desire returns before discipline does. Joy returns before clarity does. And from that place, rhythm is rebuilt—not forced, not frantic, but sustainable.If your spirit feels scattered today, don’t panic. Don’t pressure yourself. Don’t spiral into guilt. This moment isn’t a setback—it’s an invitation.God is calling you back into rhythm, not with demand, but with kindness.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Psalm 51:12 (ESV) — “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”Principle:Spiritual renewal begins with returning, not striving.Teaching Points:God restores before He requires, because joy fuels discipline more effectively than pressure. Awareness of spiritual fatigue is not failure; it’s the first step toward realignment. When you prioritize closeness with God, rhythm naturally follows.Daily Action:Spend two uninterrupted minutes today in quiet, without agenda.Practice:Throughout the day, whisper: “Restore my joy, Lord.”Challenge:Return gently to one spiritual practice you’ve drifted from, without guilt or pressure.Prayer:Father, realign my heart where it has grown tired. Restore my joy, quiet the noise within me, and draw me back into Your presence. I don’t want to strive—I want to return. Amen.In Closing:Your spirit doesn’t need punishment—it needs presence. Let God reset what life has scattered.Let’s get to work.It’s amazing how God turns a simple message into a movement.If this word stirred your spirit, help us keep speaking truth, forging faith, and equipping the next generation of warriors.👉 Support the mission here: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

There are moments when you don’t lose your worth all at once—you lose your footing. It happens quietly. Life gets heavy, people get distracted, and the world doesn’t always reward what matters most. You keep doing what you need to do. You keep showing up. You keep carrying responsibilities, keeping promises, being the dependable one. But deep down, something starts to feel… smaller.Not because you suddenly stopped believing in yourself, but because the human heart is vulnerable to a certain kind of erosion: the slow drip of being overlooked, misunderstood, under-appreciated, or judged by a version of you that isn’t even accurate.And when that erosion has been happening long enough, the question doesn’t show up as a question. It shows up as a feeling.You feel less valuable.Less confident.Less certain.Less sure that you still matter the way you once believed you did.That’s when the trap snaps shut: you start measuring your worth by things that were never meant to carry that kind of weight. Productivity. Approval. Progress. Compliments. Attention. “Being needed.” Even spiritual performance—how consistent you’ve been, how strong you feel, how “on fire” you think you should be.But worth doesn’t survive in those systems. It becomes fragile there. Because the moment the applause stops—or the results slow down—or the season turns hard—you start asking, What happened to me?I’ve had seasons where I felt that tension. Seasons where I did what was right and still felt unseen. Seasons where I carried responsibilities as a husband and a father, trying to be steady for Michelle, trying to be present for Steven, Michael, and Victoria, trying to lead with integrity—and yet still feeling like I wasn’t measuring up to what I had in my own head. Not because anyone was attacking me, but because I was quietly judging myself by expectations that God never gave me.And that’s where God’s whisper becomes everything.Because God doesn’t rebuild your worth by giving you a pep talk.He rebuilds your worth by returning you to truth.The whisper isn’t, “Do more.”It’s, “Come closer.”It’s not, “Prove yourself.”It’s, “Remember who holds you.”There is something stabilizing about realizing this: your worth was never created by people, and it cannot be destroyed by people. It wasn’t produced by your effort, and it can’t be erased by your exhaustion. Your worth is not a wage you earn. It is a gift rooted in belonging.And when you belong to God, your value is not up for debate.That doesn’t mean you’ll never feel insecure. It means insecurity doesn’t get the final word. It means your identity doesn’t have to swing with the mood of the room. It means you can be steady even when your emotions aren’t. You can be grounded even when your circumstances are messy. You can be confident—not in yourself as some kind of self-made fortress, but confident in the God who speaks your name with love.So if you’ve been feeling diminished lately, here’s what I want you to hear: you’re not “less than.” You’re not forgotten. You’re not losing your value. You’re just overdue for a reminder.God is not confused about you.God is not tired of you.God is not measuring your worth with the same broken measuring stick the world uses.And when you let that truth settle down into you—when you stop wrestling for worth and start receiving it—something changes. You don’t become arrogant. You become peaceful. You become less reactive. You become less dependent on validation. You become freer.Because you finally return to the safest place your heart can live:Being held. Being known. Being His.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Isaiah 49:16 (ESV) — “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”Principle:Your worth is secure because God Himself secures it.Teaching Points:When worth is tied to outcomes or approval, it becomes fragile and exhausting to maintain. God anchors your value in belonging, not performance, so your identity can remain steady even when life feels unsteady. The more you return to His voice, the less power insecurity has to define you.Daily Action:Say this aloud once today: “My worth is held by God.”Practice:Take 30 seconds of quiet and breathe slowly, repeating: “I belong to You.”Challenge:Identify one place you’ve been chasing validation (even subtly) and choose to release it today.Prayer:Father, when my heart forgets my worth, bring me back to Your truth. Quiet every lie that tells me I have to earn what You’ve already given. Anchor me in Your love and let Your voice be louder than my insecurity. Amen.In Closing:Your worth didn’t rise with applause, and it won’t fall with silence. Let God’s whisper steady you again.Let’s get to work.It’s amazing how God turns a simple message into a movement.If this word stirred your spirit, help us keep speaking truth, forging faith, and equipping the next generation of warriors.👉 Support the mission here: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Matthew 11:28 (ESV) — “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”My child…Slow down for a moment.Come sit with Me.You’ve been carrying more than you realize, trying to hold yourself together in ways I never asked you to.I see the tiredness behind your smile.I see the pressure you’ve quietly accepted as “normal.”I see the thoughts that swirl at night when the world gets quiet and your heart finally whispers what it’s been holding in.So hear Me now.You do not have to earn rest.You only have to let Me give it to you.You were never meant to keep pushing past your limits…never meant to pretend you’re fine when your heart is heavy…never meant to feel guilty for needing a break.Rest is not weakness.Rest is not failure.Rest is not falling behind.Rest is returning to Me.You think you need to be strong for everyone…but I am strong for you.You think everything depends on your effort…but I am holding more of your life than you realize.Come to Me — not when you feel perfect or polished or confident —come to Me as you are right now: weary, stretched, human.I receive you.I delight in you.I will restore you.Let the weight of this week slip from your shoulders.Let the unfinished tasks release their grip.Let the pressure you’ve carried dissolve in My presence.I am not asking you to perform. I am inviting you to rest.I am not demanding strength. I am offering renewal.I am not measuring your progress. I am holding your heart.Lay it all down here with Me.Let Me quiet the noise.Let Me soothe the ache.Let Me strengthen what has grown tired.You are safe with Me.You are seen by Me.You are loved — fully, endlessly, completely.Tonight, release the pressure.Tomorrow will come.But right now… stay here with Me.I am your rest.I am your renewal.And I am not going anywhere.— Your FatherIt’s amazing how God turns a simple message into a movement.If this word stirred your spirit, help us keep speaking truth, forging faith, and equipping the next generation of warriors.👉 Support the mission here: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Relationships are beautiful — until they’re not simple anymore.And the truth is, most of them aren’t simple.Not marriage.Not friendship.Not family.Not community.Not even the relationships we value most.People we love can disappoint us.People we trust can misunderstand us.People we care for deeply can hurt us without meaning to.And sometimes, we’re the ones who cause the bruise.If your heart feels tired today…If you’ve been holding emotions you don’t quite know what to do with…If someone close to you has said something, done something, or not done something that left a mark…Take a breath.God sees it.God understands it.God speaks into it.One of the most exhausting things about relationship pain is that we rarely show the full weight of it.We try to stay calm.We try to be gracious.We try to avoid making things worse.We tell ourselves, “It’ll blow over,” or “I shouldn’t feel this way,” or “Maybe it’s not a big deal.”But your heart knows when something hurts — even if you don’t say it out loud.And sometimes the deepest ache isn’t from one major moment…but from the slow accumulation of small misunderstandings, unspoken needs, unresolved tension, or emotional exhaustion.I’ve lived this.I’ve loved deeply, failed deeply, tried deeply, and learned deeply.I’ve been the one who felt unheard… and I’ve been the one who didn’t listen well enough.Relationships are humbling.They reveal who we are — and who we’re still becoming.There was a moment in my own life — during a difficult season with someone I loved — when emotions had piled up unspoken. The air between us felt heavy even if the conversation stayed light. I prayed, “God, what am I supposed to do with this? I can’t fix what I can’t fully name.”And God whispered something that softened everything:“Bring the weight to Me first.”Not because the relationship didn’t matter.But because my heart needed healing before my words could be helpful.Maybe that’s what God is offering you today:“Bring Me the part of your heart you’ve been carrying alone.”You don’t have to fix everything today.You don’t have to solve it perfectly.You don’t have to pretend you’re not affected.Relationships are where we grow — and growth isn’t painless.But God speaks through that growth.God softens, strengthens, reshapes, restores.And God whispers truth into the places we’re afraid to touch.Hold onto this:Healing begins when honesty meets God’s presence.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Psalm 34:18 (ESV) — “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”Principle:God meets us in the emotional spaces we try hardest to hide.Teaching Points:Your feelings don’t make you weak — they make you human.Unspoken emotions grow heavier with time; God invites you to bring them into the light.Healing in relationships often begins with letting God tend to your heart first.Daily Action:Bring one honest emotion before God today — even if you can’t articulate it perfectly.Practice:Pause for a moment and whisper:“God, be near to my heart.”Challenge:Identify one relationship where you’ve been carrying unspoken hurt — and begin lifting it to God before you address the person.Prayer:Lord, meet me in the tender places of my heart. Heal what’s bruised, calm what’s anxious, and strengthen what feels fragile. Help me love with wisdom, patience, and honesty. Be near in the places I cannot fix alone. Amen.In Closing:Your heart matters to God. Before you try to navigate the complexities of relationships, let Him steady and strengthen the deepest part of you.Let’s get to work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

There are days when the pressures around you seem to come from every direction at once — the kind of days when your heart feels tired long before your body does. When even small tasks feel weighty. When emotions sit closer to the surface. When you wonder, “How am I supposed to keep going like this?”If you’ve been in that place recently — emotionally drained, spiritually weary, or quietly fighting battles no one sees — pause for a moment.Take a breath.Let your shoulders soften.Let the noise inside you settle for a few seconds.Because God speaks differently when you’re under pressure.He whispers strength.Not the loud, dramatic strength you see in movies —but the kind that steadies your breathing, anchors your soul, and reminds you that you are not facing anything alone.Some battles don’t announce themselves.They creep in quietly:A wave of discouragement that hits out of nowhere…Anxiety that wakes you before the sun does…Temptation knocking louder than your resolve…Old wounds resurfacing when you least expect it…A heaviness in your chest you can’t explain to anyone…You don’t choose these battles.They choose you.And sometimes, the hardest part is the silence — the feeling that God hasn’t stepped in yet… the fear that maybe this time you’re fighting without Him.I’ve been there.There was a night years ago when I felt pressure building inside me like a dam about to break. Life felt too heavy, too fast, too loud. I didn’t have the strength to pray eloquently. I didn’t have clarity. I barely had words at all.And in that fragile, exhausted moment, God didn’t ask for strength I didn’t have.He whispered something unexpected:“You don’t have to win this battle. You just have to stay with Me.”That whisper changed the entire night.Not because the situation shifted instantly…but because I did.Battles look different when you stop fighting from fear and start fighting from Presence.Maybe today God is whispering to you:“You’re not as alone as you feel.”“You’re stronger than this moment.”“I’m with you even here.”Overcoming isn’t about never struggling.It’s about remembering the One who steps into the struggle with you.Some of the greatest victories in your life won’t come from your determination…but from your willingness to lean into God when you feel weakest.Remember this:The battle is real, but so is the One who fights beside you.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) — “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you…”Principle:Victory begins not with your strength, but with God’s presence.Teaching Points:Battles feel heavier when you believe you’re fighting alone.God meets you in the exact places where you feel weakest.Overcoming is often a shift in trust, not a change in circumstance.Daily Action:Speak this aloud at least once today:“God, I can’t carry this alone — be my strength.”Practice:Whenever you feel tension rise, pause for three slow breaths and quietly pray:“Stay with me, Lord.”Challenge:Identify one area of your life where fear or discouragement has been speaking louder than truth — and surrender it to God today.Prayer:Lord, when my heart feels overwhelmed, remind me You are near. Strengthen me where I feel weak, quiet the fear inside me, and help me trust that You are fighting with me and for me. Amen.In Closing:You don’t have to be strong all the time. You just have to stay close. God will carry what you can’t.Let’s get to work.It’s amazing how God turns a simple message into a movement.If this word stirred your spirit, help us keep speaking truth, forging faith, and equipping the next generation of warriors.👉 Support the mission here: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

There are seasons when purpose feels clear… when life aligns, doors open, and you feel like you’re walking in rhythm with God.And then there are the other seasons.The seasons when your purpose feels foggy.When you wonder if you’ve taken a wrong turn.When life doesn’t look anything like you hoped it would.When even good responsibilities feel heavy, and meaningful things feel distant.If that’s you today, take a gentle breath.Let yourself settle for just a moment.Because God has a whisper for those who feel lost in the fog.I’ve had more than one season where I asked God, “Is this still where You want me? Am I still on the right path? Did I miss something?” I wanted clarity. I wanted direction. I wanted the blueprint.Instead, God whispered something far simpler — and far more profound:“Your purpose is not ahead of you. It’s already in you.”Those words changed me.Because many of us look for purpose as if it’s hidden somewhere outside of ourselves, waiting to be unlocked with the right decision, the right timing, or the right opportunity.But purpose is not a destination.Purpose is a direction.Purpose is a posture.Purpose is a way of living in the presence of God.You don’t wait for purpose —you walk with purpose.And purpose isn’t fragile.It doesn’t crumble when plans change.It doesn’t disappear when you mess up.It doesn’t fade when you feel discouraged or unsure.Purpose bends with you through different seasons of life.It grows with you.It matures in you.It reshapes itself as God reshapes your heart.Maybe today God is whispering to you:“You’re not behind. You’re becoming.”“I’m not finished with you.”“Your purpose is unfolding even when you don’t see progress.”Sometimes the clearest moments of calling come when life feels nonlinear — when you’re raising children, navigating illness, rebuilding after disappointment, working a job that doesn’t feel like “ministry,” or carrying responsibilities that take every ounce of your energy.Purpose isn’t always glamorous.Purpose is often quiet, consistent, faithful, and hidden.Some of the holiest things you will ever do…will never be seen by anyone but God.And those invisible moments matter deeply to Him.I think back to the day God saved my son Steven — that unmistakable voice cutting through the noise, telling me, “Go out the back door… NOW.” In that moment, purpose wasn’t about a platform. It wasn’t about a plan. It wasn’t about a future goal.Purpose was obedience — right there, right then.Purpose was listening.Purpose was responding.Purpose was love in motion.And that’s what God is inviting you into today.Not a blueprint.Not a five-year plan.Not a perfect path.Just your next “yes.”📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Proverbs 3:6 (ESV) — “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”Principle:Purpose is not something you find — it’s something you walk in, one step of obedience at a time.Teaching Points:Purpose unfolds as you acknowledge God in the details of your day.Clarity grows with obedience, not certainty.Your purpose is active even in seasons that feel ordinary or discouraging.Daily Action:Ask God one simple question today:“What is my next step?”And listen.Practice:Pause once today and acknowledge God in what you’re doing — even if it seems small.Challenge:Let go of one expectation you’ve placed on yourself about purpose — and receive God’s pace instead of your own pressure.Prayer:Lord, when I feel unsure of my purpose, remind me that You are leading even when I cannot see clearly. Speak into my confusion, calm my fears, and show me my next step. Teach me to trust You more than I trust my own understanding. Amen.In Closing:Purpose isn’t waiting somewhere in the distance. It’s already alive in you. Take your next step with God today.Let’s get to work.It’s amazing how God turns a simple message into a movement.If this word stirred your spirit, help us keep speaking truth, forging faith, and equipping the next generation of warriors.👉 Support the mission here: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

There’s a kind of loneliness that doesn’t show up in empty rooms.It shows up in crowded ones.It’s the loneliness of being surrounded… and still feeling like no one really sees what you’re carrying.It’s the kind of loneliness that shows up in marriages, friendships, workplaces, churches — even in our own families.It’s the quiet sense that everyone else has someone… but I have to handle this myself.If that resonates even a little, take a breath.You’re not strange.You’re not weak.You’re not the only one.And you’re certainly not forgotten.Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to be strong by being silent.We learned to endure instead of share.We learned to smile instead of speak.We learned to carry things alone because it felt safer than risking disappointment.But here’s the problem — carrying everything alone is not strength.It’s survival.And God didn’t design you to survive your life.He designed you to live it with others.God whispers in our solitude…but He also whispers through the people He sends to walk beside us.There was a season of my life when I was trying to hold everything together — my family, my faith, the pressure of career, the weight of expectations. I thought being responsible meant being silent. I thought being strong meant not asking for help.And slowly, without noticing it, I became isolated — not physically, but emotionally.And that kind of isolation is a heavy place to sit.One day, in the middle of feeling overwhelmed, God whispered something simple and unexpected:“You’re not meant to carry this alone.”It wasn’t a correction.It wasn’t a command.It was an invitation.An invitation back into community.Into friendship.Into connection.Into letting others help me breathe when life felt too tight around my chest.Maybe today, God is offering you that same whisper.Maybe you’ve been holding too much in your own hands.Maybe you’ve convinced yourself, “It’s just easier if I do it myself.”Maybe it’s been years since you let anyone in far enough to help lift the weight.You don’t have to force vulnerability.You don’t have to spill your whole story today.You don’t have to become someone you’re not.But you do need people.We all do.God often speaks through a friend’s honesty, a spouse’s kindness, a child’s laughter, a stranger’s encouragement, a mentor’s wisdom — or even through the simple presence of someone who doesn’t need you to perform.Here’s the truth worth carrying into your day:You are not meant to walk your journey alone. God’s whisper often arrives through the people He places in your path.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (ESV) — “Two are better than one… For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.”Principle:God often strengthens us through the community He surrounds us with.Teaching Points:Loneliness isn’t a flaw — it’s a signal pointing you back toward connection.Letting people in is not weakness; it’s wisdom.Community is one of the primary ways God whispers encouragement into our lives.Daily Action:Reach out to someone today — a text, a call, a simple check-in — and open the door to connection.Practice:Whisper this throughout the day:“God, show me the people You’ve placed in my life.”Challenge:Identify one area of life you’ve been carrying alone — and allow someone to support you, even in a small way.Prayer:Lord, thank You for the gift of people. For the friends, family, mentors, and even strangers You use to speak into my life. Help me loosen my grip on isolation and open my heart to the connections You’ve designed for me. Amen.In Closing:You were never meant to carry life alone. Let God whisper through the people He sends your way.Let’s get to work.It’s amazing how God turns a simple message into a movement.If this word stirred your spirit, help us keep speaking truth, forging faith, and equipping the next generation of warriors.👉 Support the mission here: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Some days, discipline comes naturally.Other days… just getting started feels like climbing a mountain barefoot.If you’ve had moments lately where your motivation has slipped through your fingers…if you’ve felt tired in your soul, not just your schedule…if spiritual habits you once held tightly now feel harder to reach…then take a breath.You’re not failing.You’re human.And God is already speaking into this place.One of the most misunderstood truths about spiritual growth is this:Discipline isn’t about willpower — it’s about awareness.Not awareness of what you lack…but awareness of the One who walks with you in every small step you take.I remember a stretch of time years ago when I kept saying, “Tomorrow I’ll be better.”Tomorrow I’ll pray more.Tomorrow I’ll be more patient.Tomorrow I’ll read more.Tomorrow I’ll listen more closely for God’s voice.But every “tomorrow” collapsed under the weight of exhaustion and frustration.And one morning — when I felt particularly discouraged — God didn’t correct me.He didn’t lecture me.He didn’t remind me of my promises or my failures.He whispered something I’ll never forget:“I’m not disappointed in you. I’m here with you.”That whisper didn’t increase my discipline…it restored my desire.Because discipline grows where shame dies.And shame dies in the presence of God’s gentleness.Maybe you need to hear God’s heart today:“You’re not behind. You’re becoming.”Discipline isn’t a test.It’s an invitation.And every time you choose to pray, even briefly…every time you pause long enough to listen…every time you open Scripture even when your mind feels tired…every time you show up with a quiet, willing heart…God sees it.God honors it.God multiplies it.You’re not trying to climb your way to God.You’re learning to walk with Him — one small step at a time.And sometimes the holiest thing you can do is not push harder…but return to Him gently, honestly, without pretending you’re stronger than you are.Because discipline is not built on perfection.It’s built on returning.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Philippians 2:13 (ESV) — “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”Principle:Spiritual discipline grows when we stop trying to impress God and start learning to walk with Him.Teaching Points:You don’t grow through force — you grow through Presence.God doesn’t wait for perfect effort; He honors honest beginnings.Discipline becomes sustainable when it flows from love, not pressure.Daily Action:Take one small spiritual step today — pray, pause, or open Scripture — and let it be enough.Practice:Throughout the day, whisper:“God, work in me.”Let that simple prayer shape your awareness.Challenge:Identify one area where you’ve been driven by guilt instead of grace — and release it today.Prayer:Lord, meet me in the places where discipline feels difficult. Take away the pressure and replace it with a desire to walk closely with You. Help me grow one step at a time, not through striving but through surrender. Amen.In Closing:You don’t have to be perfect to grow. You just have to return. God meets you there every time.Let’s get to work.It’s amazing how God turns a simple message into a movement.If this word stirred your spirit, help us keep speaking truth, forging faith, and equipping the next generation of warriors.👉 Support the mission here: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

If you’ve been feeling a little unsteady… a little unsure of yourself… maybe even questioning where you fit or who you’re becoming… you’re not alone. That feeling hits all of us at different moments, sometimes quietly, sometimes with a force we didn’t expect.Before we go any further, take a slow breath.Let the tension drop from your shoulders.Let your mind settle just a bit.There’s something God wants to speak into your heart today — and it begins with this:Your identity is not as shaky as your circumstances make it feel.Life has a way of testing who we think we are.A difficult conversation.A missed opportunity.A bad decision.A health challenge.A season of fatigue that never seems to lift.And suddenly, confidence starts to leak through the cracks.We begin to wonder:“Why can’t I get this right?”“What’s wrong with me?”“Did I lose something along the way?”I remember a season years ago — right in the middle of trying to take care of my family, trying to figure out who I was spiritually, professionally, emotionally — when I felt like my confidence was being stripped down to the studs. I didn’t recognize myself. I didn’t trust myself. And I didn’t know how to fix it.But here’s what’s remarkable:God didn’t wait for a calm moment to speak.He didn’t wait for me to feel centered or spiritual or strong.He whispered right into the middle of my overwhelm.“You’re still mine.”Not a booming command.Not a list of things to work on.Just a gentle reminder… one that felt like it sank beneath the noise and touched the deepest part of me.Sometimes the most powerful thing God says isn’t a directive.Sometimes it’s simply reassurance.Identity doesn’t get rebuilt through striving — it gets rebuilt through belonging.And maybe you need that reminder today:“You have not lost who you are — you’ve just forgotten whose you are.”When life shakes your confidence, it’s easy to assume something is wrong with you. But often, God is simply creating space to remind you that your worth was never meant to rest on performance, or perception, or perfection. Your identity is rooted in His voice — not your circumstances.There’s a moment from my past that still reminds me of this. The day God saved my son Steven — the day I heard that unmistakable voice telling me, “Go out the back door… NOW.” That moment didn’t just rescue my child. It reshaped my understanding of who I was: a person God cared enough to speak to. A person God saw. A person God loved.That same God sees you.He knows the questions swirling in your mind.He knows the pressure you carry silently.He knows the fragile places you don’t talk about.And He whispers into all of it:“You are Mine.”Hold onto that. Even if everything else feels uncertain, that truth is not.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Isaiah 43:1 (ESV) — “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”Principle:When life shakes your confidence, God steadies you with truth.Teaching Points:Identity is not defined by the moments that unsettle you.Confidence comes and goes — but belonging doesn’t.God speaks reassurance before He speaks direction.Daily Action:Say this aloud once today:“God, remind me who I am in You.”Practice:Give God 30 seconds of quiet today. Let Him meet you in stillness.Challenge:Identify one insecurity trying to define you — and replace it with God’s promise in Isaiah 43:1.Prayer:Father, whisper truth into the places where my confidence wavers. Remind me that I am Yours — seen, known, and held. Restore peace to the parts of me that feel uncertain, and anchor me in Your presence today. Amen.In Closing:Confidence doesn’t return through effort. It returns through listening. Let God steady your heart today.Let’s get to work.It’s amazing how God turns a simple message into a movement.If this word stirred your spirit, help us keep speaking truth, forging faith, and equipping the next generation of warriors.👉 Support the mission here: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Isaiah 43:1 (ESV)“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”My child…Before you try to be holy… before you try to fix yourself… before you try to resist what tempts you or outrun what haunts you… you need to know something deeper than all of that:You belong to Me.You are Mine—not because you earned it.Not because you’ve been perfect.Not because you’ve stayed strong.But because I chose you before you ever knew My name.Holiness doesn’t begin with your behavior.Holiness begins with your identity.And your identity begins with My love, not your performance.You have carried shame long enough.You have carried regret long enough.You have carried the weight of trying to prove yourself long enough.Listen to Me:You are not trying to become My child—you already are.Nothing you’ve done cancels My claim on you.Nothing you struggle with scares Me away.Nothing you face will make Me release My hold on you.I have walked into every dark place with you.I have stood beside you in moments you thought I’d be ashamed.I have watched you fight battles no one else knew about.And even when you fell… I never stepped back.You are Mine.When I redeemed you, it wasn’t temporary.When I called you, it wasn’t conditional.When I named you, it wasn’t fragile.I did not set you apart because I needed you to be impressive.I set you apart because I wanted you close.You look at yourself and see progress or failure…strength or weakness…victory or defeat.But I look at you and see My son.I see who you are becoming.I see the man I am shaping.I see the holiness I am forming in you step by step, surrender by surrender, whisper by whisper.You are not failing Me by being in a process—you are honoring Me by staying in it.I am not disappointed in your weakness.I use your weakness to reveal My strength.I use your struggles to reveal My nearness.I use your wounds to reveal My healing.You belong to Me…when you stand strongwhen you stumblewhen you repentwhen you risewhen you seek Mewhen you feel Meand even when you can’t feel Me at all.I am holding your life in My hands.I am guarding your heart.I am restoring what was broken.I am cleansing what was stained.I am strengthening what was fragile.I am purifying what was wounded.And when the enemy whispers that you haven’t changed…that you’ll never be free…that your past still defines you…Remember this:Your past is not your identity.Your temptations are not your identity.Your failures are not your identity.I am your identity.And you belong to Me.Holiness is not you trying harder—it is you trusting deeper.So rest your heart, child.Lean on Me.Walk with Me.Stay close to Me.Because I will finish the work I started in you.And nothing—nothing—will take you from My hand.With everlasting love,— Your Father⚡ Let’s Get To Work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Brother… today we’re talking about a phrase Christians use all the time but rarely slow down and understand: being set apart for God. Not separated out of punishment, not isolated out of rejection, not withdrawn from life — but set apart the way a craftsman sets aside a tool for a special purpose.Being set apart isn’t about losing something.It’s about being prepared for something.There are moments in your life — relationships, habits, opportunities, environments — where God didn’t just pull you out… He pulled you up. He wasn’t isolating you. He was positioning you. He was shaping your heart so He could trust you with battles and assignments you didn’t even know were coming.Let’s walk straight into it.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:2 Timothy 2:21 (ESV)“…he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house…”📖 TEACHINGBeing set apart is not about superiority — it’s about purpose. It means God has placed His hand on your life in a specific way. He’s forming you into a vessel He can trust. And brother… vessels don’t shape themselves.A vessel is molded.Stretched.Pressed.Refined.Purified.And sometimes the very seasons you thought were setbacks were actually God shaping the inside of you — preparing you for “honorable use.”Being set apart means God is removing what cannot go with you into your calling.Not because you’re unworthy…but because you’re chosen.He separates you not to make you lonely, but to make you ready.He strips away old patterns not to expose you, but to free you.He closes certain doors not to punish you, but to protect you.There is always purpose in His pruning.Always intention in His separation.Always grace in His calling.You are not “different” in the awkward sense — you are different in the divine sense.You don’t fit everywhere because you weren’t designed to belong everywhere.You don’t blend in because God didn’t create you to disappear.You don’t stay in old places because God’s hand is moving you toward new ones.Holiness is more than clean living —it’s God preparing a life for holy impact.🧍‍♂️ PERSONAL STORYBrother… I used to think being set apart meant being kept away from things. I thought it meant losing opportunities other men got to enjoy or being boxed out of certain environments. I didn’t see the blessing — only the restriction.But then God began revealing something much deeper.There were relationships He pulled me out of.There were environments He closed off to me.There were seasons where everything familiar was stripped away.And at first, I pushed back… because I didn’t see the purpose.Until the day when the earthquake hit my life — that moment when God exposed my own heart, my own tone, my own pain, and the wounds given to me by the man I loved and respected most: my grandfather.God wasn’t isolating me — He was cleansing the parts of me that had been shaped by that pain. He wasn’t separating me from people — He was separating me from patterns. He wasn’t cutting things away — He was cutting things off me.And it was in that season that Michelle quietly spoke a truth that still echoes in my spirit:“Matthew… maybe God isn’t removing things from you. Maybe He’s preparing you for what’s next.”And she was right.Every moment God set me apart was a moment He was shaping me — for my calling, my marriage, my ministry, my family, my voice, my future.Being set apart wasn’t rejection.It was refinement.It was honor.I wasn’t being pushed away.I was being prepared.💪 LIVING APPLICATIONBrother, being set apart may feel lonely at times… but it is never empty. God is doing His best work in you behind the scenes. He’s shaping your character, sharpening your discernment, refining your heart, and preparing you for assignments that require a holy man, not a worldly one.When God sets you apart…it’s because He intends to send you out.🙏 PRAYERFather, thank You for setting me apart for Your purpose. Help me embrace every season of refinement, every moment of pruning, and every shift in direction. Shape me into a vessel You can trust, and prepare me for the calling You have appointed for my life. In Jesus’ name — amen.⚡ Let’s Get To Work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Brother… today we’re exposing one of the biggest lies the enemy has ever fed men of God: the idea that “real strength” means standing toe-to-toe with temptation. As if holiness means proving how close you can get to the edge without falling.But God never asked you to fight temptation.He asked you to flee it.Not negotiate with it.Not test your strength against it.Not reason with it or “manage” it.Just flee.Fleeing doesn’t make you weak — it makes you wise.It’s not cowardice — it’s clarity.It’s not passivity — it’s spiritual intelligence.Let’s break this wide open.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:1 Corinthians 6:18 (ESV)“Flee from sexual immorality…”📖 TEACHINGWhen Scripture talks about temptation — especially sexual temptation — God doesn’t tell you to face it. He tells you to run. That is not a suggestion. It’s not a gentle encouragement. It is a divine command because God knows something we don’t like to admit:You cannot out-muscle your flesh.You can only outrun it.Temptation grows stronger the longer you stand in its presence.The longer you linger, the louder it becomes.The more you entertain it, the more it entangles you.We fall most often not because the temptation is strong…but because we are slow to flee.Joseph didn’t stand and negotiate with Potiphar’s wife.He didn’t pray a long prayer.He didn’t quote seven scriptures.He ran — leaving his cloak behind if he had to — because purity was worth more than reputation, comfort, or explanation.Holiness sometimes looks like sprinting.Sometimes it looks like blocking a number.Sometimes it looks like logging off.Sometimes it looks like leaving the room.Sometimes it looks like saying “Nope, not today.”But every time it looks like this one truth:Get out before your flesh talks you into staying.🧍‍♂️ PERSONAL STORYBrother, fleeing temptation isn’t something I learned from a sermon… it’s something I learned from the wreckage of trying to handle things myself.There were seasons when I thought I could “manage” certain temptations. I thought I was strong enough. I thought my willpower was enough. I thought maturity meant being able to be around temptation without falling into it.But here’s the truth God exposed in me:When you stop fleeing, you start falling — even if the fall takes time.My temptation wasn’t sexual… mine was anger. Pride. Control. The desire to win the moment. And the enemy doesn’t care which temptation he uses — he just wants a foothold.Every time I “stayed in the room” emotionally… every time I let myself get close to the edge… every time I didn’t step away when the Spirit nudged me… I fell into patterns that wounded people I loved.And then came the whisper — the whisper that rescued me:“Matthew… flee. Don’t fight this. Get out of the moment before it becomes sin.”That whisper has saved me more times than I can count.I’ve watched Michelle practice the same wisdom — in her case, fleeing anxiety-triggering conversations, fleeing environments that stirred old wounds, fleeing situations that threatened her peace. She isn’t weak. She’s wise. The Spirit taught her to run from anything that could pull her back into chains God already broke.Sometimes holiness sounds like footsteps.Leaving. Walking away. Turning off. Turning around.And God calls that obedience.💪 LIVING APPLICATIONBrother, temptation doesn’t care how strong you think you are. It only cares how long you stay.If you want victory, don’t wait for the battle.Leave the battlefield entirely.Temptation loses every time you refuse to give it an audience.🙏 PRAYERFather, give me the wisdom to flee before temptation gets close. Strengthen my discernment. Sharpen my awareness. Help me run quickly, boldly, and without hesitation when something threatens my purity. Make me a man who values holiness above pride. In Jesus’ name — amen.⚡ Let’s Get To Work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Brother… today we’re stepping into the rhythm of holiness — not the mountaintop moments, not the dramatic breakthroughs, not the emotional highs — but the daily pursuit.Holiness isn’t built in a single prayer or a single promise.It’s built in the quiet repetition of choosing God again and again.It’s built in the moments nobody sees.It’s built in conversations where you choose gentleness over pride, purity over impulse, surrender over control.Holiness isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being consistent.Let’s walk this one out.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”📖 TEACHINGThe word “strive” in this passage doesn’t mean “stress” or “struggle.”It means pursue, chase, lean into, move toward, build your life around.Holiness isn’t something you stumble into.It is something you cultivate — like a garden that requires daily attention.Think about it…weeds don’t grow all at once.They creep in slowly.The same is true in the spirit.Holiness requires awareness.Holiness requires rhythm.Holiness requires a heart that stays soft to God, day after day.And the beautiful thing is this:You don’t pursue holiness alone.The Holy Spirit walks with you, shaping you, nudging you, correcting you, strengthening you, and reminding you who you are becoming.Holiness is a partnership —God supplies the power,you supply the surrender.When God whispers “Come closer,” holiness answers, “Yes, Lord.”When He says “Let that go,” holiness says, “I trust You.”When He calls you to forgive, holiness says, “Help me obey.”When He convicts your heart, holiness says, “Do what You need to do in me.”Holiness is daily willingness.🧍‍♂️ PERSONAL STORYBrother… the daily pursuit of holiness is something God had to teach me slowly — and painfully. Holiness didn’t hit me in one life-changing moment. It came through a long series of moments, small and subtle, that tested my reactions, my motives, my pride, and my willingness to change.There were seasons when I thought holiness was about doing everything “right.”So I performed.I acted strong.I held myself together outwardly while inwardly carrying wounds and habits that were anything but holy.But then came that spiritual earthquake — the moment when my own reaction tore a hole in the relationships I valued most. The anger, the tone, the quickness… it all came out. And in the aftermath, God wasn’t shouting at me — He was whispering as clearly as He ever had:“Matthew, this is the place I want to make holy.”Not my image.Not my public self.Not my ministry.My heart.It wasn’t a one-day transformation. It was daily surrender. Daily awareness. Daily moments when the Spirit nudged me and said, “Don’t respond yet… listen first.”Moments when Michelle gently reminded me — not accusingly, but lovingly — that holiness wasn’t about strength, it was about softness… not about dominance, but about surrender.Those daily choices shaped me more than any single breakthrough ever could.Holiness is built like a house —brick by brick, day by day, choice by choice.💪 LIVING APPLICATIONHoliness isn’t a destination you’ll reach someday. It’s a journey you walk with God every morning you wake up. When you fall, you get up. When you slip, you surrender. When He convicts, you respond. And every day you choose Him again… you become more like Him.Holiness is not the result of perfection —it’s the result of persistence.🙏 PRAYERFather, teach me to pursue holiness every single day. Make my heart soft, my spirit attentive, and my steps obedient. Help me walk with You in the small moments, not just the big ones. Shape me slowly, faithfully, and deeply as I surrender to You again and again. In Jesus’ name — amen.⚡ Let’s Get To Work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Brother… today we’re stepping into the heart of holy living. Not the behavior. Not the discipline. Not the white-knuckle effort. But the source. Because purity doesn’t come from willpower; it comes from presence — the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding your steps.Walking by the Spirit isn’t mystical, spooky, or complicated.It’s simple.It’s intimate.It’s daily.It’s God whispering, leading, nudging, strengthening, redirecting, and empowering you so you don’t fight battles alone. When the Spirit leads, temptation loses its grip. When the Spirit guides, your flesh gets quieter. When the Spirit fills you, holiness isn’t something you chase — it’s something you walk in.Let’s dive in.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Galatians 5:16 (ESV)“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”📖 TEACHINGPaul doesn’t say, “Fight the flesh and then you’ll walk in the Spirit.”He flips it completely.He says, “Walk by the Spirit… and THEN the flesh loses its power.”Holiness isn’t about resisting temptation —it’s about staying close to the Spirit.The Holy Spirit is not a feeling you chase.He is a Person who leads.He whispers when your flesh gets loud.He redirects when your emotions get tangled.He strengthens when your resolve wears thin.He reveals what you can’t see and warns you of what you can’t sense.Walking by the Spirit means you treat every step as if God is walking beside you — because He is.It means you pause before reaction, look inward before speaking outward, and lean on His voice more than your own instincts. And Brother, the more you walk with Him, the more your desires begin to shift. You stop wanting the things that once tripped you. You stop craving the things that once poisoned you. You stop fighting battles that no longer belong to you.Holiness becomes a byproduct of relationship.Purity becomes a result of presence.The Spirit is not trying to suppress your flesh —He’s trying to replace its influence with His own.🧍‍♂️ PERSONAL STORYBrother, walking by the Spirit is something I had to learn slowly… painfully… honestly. I spent years trying to control my flesh with discipline. I tried to regulate my reactions, silence my impulses, and fix things from the outside in. And it worked — until it didn’t.There was a moment — you’ve heard this before — when I reacted out of the flesh instead of the Spirit. My tone was sharp. My words were cutting. My emotions were louder than my discernment. And the aftermath was something I wish I could erase.But it was in that moment, standing in the wreckage of my own reaction, that God whispered with such clarity:“Matthew… this is why you can’t lead yourself. Walk with Me. Let Me guide you.”It wasn’t condemnation.It was invitation.I remember seasons when Michelle would gently ask, “Did you pray before responding?” Not judgment. Just truth in love. And she was right — every time I reacted in the flesh, it was because I moved without listening to the Spirit. And every time I paused, breathed, listened, and surrendered… the Spirit led me differently.Walking by the Spirit saved my marriage more times than I can count.It softened the rough edges my grandfather passed down to me.It restored relationships I had damaged.It re-centered my heart when pride tried to lead.Walking by the Spirit is not about perfection —it’s about connection.💪 LIVING APPLICATIONWalking by the Spirit means you don’t rush ahead of God. You let Him set the pace, shape your reactions, guide your decisions, and strengthen your convictions.You listen.You respond.You surrender.And you walk.Holiness flows naturally from that place — because the Spirit empowers what the flesh could never produce.🙏 PRAYERFather, teach me to walk with Your Spirit every moment of every day. Quiet my flesh so I can hear Your whisper. Lead me, strengthen me, and guide me. Make me sensitive to Your voice, surrendered to Your will, and steady in Your presence. In Jesus’ name — amen.⚡ Let’s Get To Work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Brother… today we’re stepping into a tension that every believer feels but very few understand. It’s the space between God’s loving correction and the enemy’s destructive accusations.And if you don’t know the difference, you’ll live wounded when you’re supposed to live healed. You’ll walk in shame when you’re supposed to walk in freedom. You’ll think God is angry when, in reality, God is pulling you closer.Millions of Christians mistake condemnation for conviction and end up running from the very God who is trying to restore them.So today we’re uncovering the truth:God’s conviction brings life. Satan’s condemnation brings death.Let’s dig in.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Romans 8:1 (ESV)“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”📖 TEACHINGConviction and condemnation may feel similar at first — both touch painful places, both make you aware of sin, both confront what’s inside you — but their purpose and their source could not be more different.Condemnation is the voice that says,“You’ll never change. You’re dirty. God is disappointed. You’re a failure.”Conviction is the voice that says,“This doesn’t belong in you. Let’s remove it together.”Condemnation pushes you away from God.Conviction pulls you toward God.Condemnation attacks your identity.Conviction transforms your character.Condemnation brings shame.Conviction brings freedom.One voice wounds.One voice heals.One voice accuses.One voice restores.God’s conviction is not Him pointing out your sin to shame you — it is Him identifying what is hurting you so He can heal it. Conviction is surgery. It may sting, but it saves. It cuts away infection. It removes poison. It restores health.Brother… if you feel drawn toward repentance, drawn toward surrender, drawn toward change — that is conviction, and it is a gift. Because it means the Holy Spirit is still shaping you.But if it drives you away from God, makes you hide, makes you feel unwanted, makes you believe God is done with you… that is condemnation, and it does not come from your Father.🧍‍♂️ PERSONAL STORYThere was a moment — a moment I’ve shared in pieces but carry deeply — when I realized just how different these two voices were.It was during the season when my words cut deeper than I meant them to, when my reactions were quicker than my discernment, when my pride spoke louder than my wisdom. I had wounded people I loved, created distance I never intended, and felt the heaviness of guilt sitting on my chest like a weight I couldn’t shake.In that moment, two voices spoke.One said,“Look at you. You’ve ruined everything. You’ll never change. You’re the problem.”That was condemnation.But then came the whisper — the whisper that changed my life:“Stop. Slow your roll. Don’t let Satan get a foothold.”It wasn’t angry.It wasn’t shaming.It wasn’t condemning.It was correction — sharp, clear, and full of love.That whisper didn’t push me away from God.It pulled me closer.Michelle saw the shift. She watched God work on my heart. She didn’t add shame. She didn’t pile on guilt. She stood with me as the Holy Spirit did what only He can do — separating conviction from condemnation, pulling poison from my heart, and restoring clarity to my spirit.God wasn’t punishing me —He was protecting me.That’s the difference.💪 LIVING APPLICATIONBrother, if God is convicting something in you, don’t run from it. Lean into it. Conviction is the evidence that the Holy Spirit is alive and active in your heart. It is God shaping you, purifying you, and drawing you deeper into holiness.But if condemnation is whispering to you — silence it immediately. Reject it. Cast it down. It is not your Father’s voice.When you learn to recognize the difference, you will walk lighter, freer, clearer, and holier than you ever have before.🙏 PRAYERFather, thank You for loving me enough to convict me. Thank You for separating Your voice from the lies of the enemy. Help me recognize Your correction and reject condemnation. Shape my heart, heal my wounds, and guide me into deeper purity. In Jesus’ name — amen.⚡ Let’s Get To Work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Brother… today we’re stepping into one of the most liberating truths in all of Scripture. It’s something every believer needs, but very few embrace—because the enemy has spent years convincing people that secrecy is safer than honesty.We’re talking about living in the light.Not pretending.Not managing your image.Not making sure people think the right things about you.But actually walking in openness before God—letting Him shine His light into the places you’ve tried to handle alone.Darkness thrives in secrecy.Shame grows in isolation.Bondage gets stronger when it’s hidden.But the moment you bring something into the light…its power breaks.Let’s go there.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:1 John 1:7 (ESV)“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…”📖 TEACHINGJohn doesn’t say, “If we never struggle, we walk in the light.”He doesn’t say, “If we’re perfect, we walk in the light.”He says, “If we walk.”Walking means movement.Walking means process.Walking means you may stumble… but you’re still headed toward the right direction.To walk in the light means you are refusing to live a double life. It means you stop giving darkness your silence. It means you let the Holy Spirit shine on the thoughts, motives, behaviors, and wounds that have quietly shaped you for years.Living in the light isn’t about exposure—it’s about freedom.God isn’t trying to embarrass you. He’s trying to rescue you. He knows that whatever you keep hidden, the enemy will use against you. But whatever you bring into the light, God will heal.Light breaks shame.Light breaks secrecy.Light breaks the cycle of sin.Light breaks the power of fear.Light restores clarity.Light restores relationship.Light restores peace.Darkness is loud until you flip the switch.Then it disappears.🧍‍♂️ PERSONAL STORY Brother… I used to think living in the light meant never messing up. I thought it meant having perfect self-control, perfect reactions, perfect discipline. And when I didn’t, I would retreat inward. I’d hold things in. I’d try to fix myself alone before I ever let God deal with it.But isolation only made things worse.Years ago, God revealed something in me that I had ignored—those sharp reactions, those bursts of anger, those patterns in my tone that wounded the people I loved… those weren’t “frustrations.” Those were shadows in my heart. Dark places I hadn’t let Him fully touch.And then came the moment when everything erupted…the moment I’ve shared with you before…the moment when my own words caused damage I never intended.And in the stillness after the chaos, God whispered something that cut straight through the darkness inside me:“Bring this into the light. Let Me deal with the part you’ve been hiding—even from yourself.”That whisper changed everything.It wasn’t condemnation.It wasn’t accusation.It was invitation.Michelle was a massive part of that healing. She didn’t shame me. She didn’t withdraw from me. She walked with me as I let God expose and heal the places I’d been protecting for years. She modeled light for me—quiet, humble, honest light.And Brother… the freedom I found when I finally brought that part of me into the light?It broke chains I didn’t even know were on me.💪 LIVING APPLICATIONWalking in the light doesn’t mean you never fall. It means you don’t stay hidden. It means you let God shine into every corner of your heart. And once He does… the enemy loses access. You regain strength. Your steps become steady. Your spirit becomes clear. And holiness becomes possible.When you live in the light, darkness simply cannot hold you.🙏 PRAYERFather, bring every hidden thing in my heart into Your light. Heal what shame has tried to bury. Restore what secrecy has damaged. Shine on every part of my life—my thoughts, my motives, my past, my wounds. Make me a man who walks in freedom, not fear. In Jesus’ name—amen.⚡ Let’s Get To Work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Ezekiel 36:26–27 (ESV)“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you…”My child…You’ve carried the weight of trying to make yourself holy, as if purity were something you could build with your own hands. You’ve tried to discipline your mind, silence your temptations, fix your flaws, and hold your heart together by sheer strength. And when you’ve fallen short, you’ve wondered if I am disappointed in you — or if you’ll ever truly change.But today, I want to lift that weight off of you.Listen closely:Holiness does not begin with your effort — it begins with My Spirit.You are not the one transforming yourself.I am transforming you.When I call you holy, I am not describing who you already are — I am declaring who you are becoming through My power. I never expected you to rise to purity alone. I never asked you to fight temptation without Me. I never told you to overcome sin with willpower. I told you to trust Me… because I am the One doing the work inside you.You do not cleanse your heart —I give you a new one.You do not renew your spirit —I place My Spirit within you.You do not carry holiness —I carry you into holiness.You have stumbled at times. You have fallen harder than you admit. You’ve had moments when you wondered if you would ever break free from certain patterns, certain thoughts, certain pulls that seem stronger than your resolve. But hear Me:Nothing inside you is stronger than My Spirit within you.Every time you come to Me… I cleanse.Every time you cry out… I strengthen.Every time you surrender… I shape your heart a little more.Every time you obey My whisper… you step further into who you were always meant to be.You are not the version of yourself the enemy accuses.You are the version I am forming.I am patient with you — far more patient than you are with yourself. I know the wounds you’re healing from. I know the temptations that whisper. I know the fears that cloud your mind. And I am not ashamed to walk with you through any of it. Holiness is not Me demanding you to climb higher — it is Me reaching down, lifting you, steadying you, renewing you, and leading you one step at a time.You may not see the progress yet…but I do.Every softened reaction…every surrendered thought…every moment you choose truth over impulse…every time you walk away from something that once held you…every time you quiet your flesh to listen for My voice…you are being purified.You are becoming holy because I am holy —and you belong to Me.So rest your heart, child.Stop punishing yourself for what I have already forgiven.Stop striving for what My Spirit is already doing.Just stay close.Stay surrendered.Stay willing.I will finish the work I started in you.I will cleanse what you cannot.I will strengthen what feels weak.I will shape your heart until it looks like Mine.You are not trying to become holy —you are learning to trust the One who is making you holy.With everlasting love,— Your Father⚡ Let’s Get To Work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Brother… today we need to talk about something many believers misunderstand — something that’s been twisted, criticized, watered down, and misrepresented so badly that people miss the heart behind it altogether.We’re talking about obedience.For a lot of Christians, obedience sounds like pressure. It sounds like rules. It feels like a spiritual checklist designed to expose your flaws. But that is NOT the heart of God. Not even close.Obedience is not God tightening His grip on you —obedience is God covering you.Every command He gives, every whisper He speaks, every nudge you feel, every “no” He puts in your spirit…it’s all coming from a Father who sees where the enemy is waiting long before you ever get there.This isn’t about control.It’s about care.It’s about protection.It’s about alignment with a God who knows exactly what you need, even when you don’t.Let’s walk this out.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:John 14:15 (ESV)“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”When Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments,” He wasn’t saying, “Prove your love to Me by doing what I say.” He wasn’t demanding obedience like a dictator. He wasn’t asking you to jump through spiritual hoops.He was saying something so much deeper:“If you knew how much I love you…you would trust My voice above your impulses.”Obedience isn’t about performing for God —obedience is about trusting His heart.The commands of God were never meant to be burdens. They were meant to be lifelines. They were written out of wisdom, anchored in love, and designed to keep you safe from traps you cannot see.Most of the pain we experience in life doesn’t come from disobedience —it comes from delayed obedience.When God tells you to walk away, He already knows what staying will cost.When He says, “Let that go,” He knows what holding onto it will do to your soul.When He says, “Forgive,” He knows bitterness is quietly poisoning you.When He says, “Stop,” He sees the cliff you don’t see yet.Every command is a covering.Every whisper is a rescue.Every nudge is God clearing landmines out of your path.And the faster you obey…the safer your heart remains.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.There was a moment in my life when I could feel God pulling at my spirit. He wasn’t shouting… He was whispering. You know the kind — the kind of whisper that settles deep in your chest and doesn’t go away.But instead of responding right away, I hesitated.I tried to handle things my way.I thought, “I’ll fix it. I’ll control it. I can manage this.”Brother… that hesitation cost me.I didn’t fall into some dramatic sin.I fell into something far worse — the consequences of ignoring God’s whisper.My words cut deeper than they should have.My reactions were faster than my discernment.My pride ran ahead of my wisdom.And the damage that followed was painful — not just for me, but for the people I loved.And right in the middle of that mess, God spoke so clearly it silenced me:“Matthew… if you had obeyed Me, this pain would not be here.”He wasn’t scolding me.He wasn’t shaming me.He was grieving with me.He loved me enough to show me what my disobedience had cost —not to punish me, but to protect me going forward.I’ve watched Michelle live this out with a kind of quiet strength that inspires me. Even when she’s exhausted… even when everything in her life feels heavy… she still listens for God’s whisper. And when she hears it, she obeys — gently, consistently, unwaveringly. I’ve seen God carry her through storms simply because she chose to say “yes” before she understood the outcome.That’s obedience.Not force…But trust.💪 LIVING APPLICATIONBrother, obedience isn’t God making your life harder.Obedience is God keeping your life whole.Every time you obey — even in something small — you shift the atmosphere around you. You step out of harm’s way. You shut the door on spiritual attack. You walk into blessing that disobedience could never produce.Obedience is your protection.Obedience is your victory.Obedience is your pathway to holiness.🙏 PRAYERFather… teach me to obey quickly.Teach me to trust Your commands even when I don’t see the danger.Soften my heart when You speak.Strengthen my will when You redirect me.Make obedience my first response, not my last resort.In Jesus’ name — amen.⚡ Let’s Get To Work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Today, Brother, we’re stepping into one of the most crucial parts of purity and holiness — guarding your heart. Not guarding your reputation. Not guarding your image. Not guarding your platform. Guarding the deep, inner place where your thoughts, emotions, desires, wounds, and motives all flow from.You and I both know this:A man can look holy on the outside and still be falling apart inside.A believer can say all the right things while their heart is leaking bitterness, fear, lust, anger, or insecurity.And the enemy knows that if he can corrupt your heart, he doesn’t need to touch anything else in your life — because everything else will eventually collapse under the weight of a wounded or unguarded heart.So today… let’s talk about the place where holiness begins long before anyone can see it.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”When Scripture says “keep your heart,” it’s not talking about protection through fear… it’s talking about protection through wisdom. Your heart is the wellspring of your life. Everything you do — how you love, how you speak, how you respond, how you forgive, how you trust God — flows from that inner reservoir.If the heart is clean, life flows clean.If the heart is polluted, everything becomes clouded.Guarding your heart doesn’t mean shutting people out.It doesn’t mean living paranoid or suspicious.It means being spiritually aware of what shapes you, influences you, and directs you.Some things God wants to heal in your heart.Other things He wants to remove from it.And still others He wants to protect from being contaminated again.God calls you to guard your heart because the enemy knows exactly what happens when you don’t. He doesn’t always attack your behavior first — he attacks your heart. He whispers lies, fuels offense, stirs old wounds, inflames insecurity, and replays past hurts until they feel fresh all over again.If the enemy can clutter your heart, he can cloud your hearing.If he clouds your hearing, he can weaken your obedience.And once obedience weakens, compromise becomes easy.This is why holiness will always come back to the heart.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Brother… guarding my heart was something I had to learn the hard way.My grandfather — God love him, and he truly is in Heaven now — left marks on me mentally that I didn’t fully understand until years later. And for a long time, without realizing it, I let those wounds shape my reactions. I let them dictate my tone. I let them fuel my anger. I let them define how I spoke to people.I didn’t know my heart was bleeding in places.I only saw the symptoms — the frustration, the sharp responses, the impatience.Michelle saw it long before I did. She saw the weight I carried, the wound I inherited, the emotional reflexes I didn’t even recognize. And instead of attacking me… she prayed for me. She stood with me. She called things out gently, not to shame me, but to help me see where my heart needed healing.And then came the day when everything cracked — that spiritual earthquake moment when God whispered, “Stop. Slow your roll. Don’t let Satan get a foothold.”It wasn’t just a correction… it was a rescue.God was guarding my heart before I even knew how.That moment taught me something I carry with me to this day:If I don’t guard my heart, my heart will guard my wounds.And wounded hearts don’t lead well.They don’t love well.They don’t listen well.And they don’t walk in holiness.💪 LIVING APPLICATIONGuarding your heart means giving God full access to it.It means letting Him clean out bitterness instead of nursing it.It means letting Him calm fear instead of feeding it.It means letting Him reshape desires, motives, and reactions that have been misshaped by years of pain or pressure.When your heart becomes healthy, holiness becomes natural.Purity becomes peaceful.And obedience becomes your instinct, not your struggle.🙏 PRAYERFather, guard my heart. Cleanse the places that are wounded. Restore what has been broken. Protect me from the lies and attacks that try to take root inside me. Make my heart whole, steady, pure, and surrendered so that everything flowing from my life reflects You. In Jesus’ name — amen.⚡ Let’s Get To Work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe